The fourth summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, which concluded in Kathmandu on Friday, will be remembered for laying the foundation for institutional mechanisms to accelerate the BIMSTEC process, something that had been lacking for two decades since the bloc's establishment.

The heads of state and the government of the seven-nation regional grouping reiterated the need for enhancing connectivity within the member states at the inaugural session of the 4th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit in Kathmandu on Thursday.

In an ambitious plan to connect the member states of BIMSTEC, foreign ministers from the seven-nation group identified and agreed on Wednesday to push forward 167 various connectivity-related projects at an estimated cost of $50 billion.

RANONG HAS the potential to be a gateway for trade with neighbouring countries, especially the BIMSTEC nations of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka, as the province has a deep-sea port to serve such commerce, provincial governor Suri

The Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) plans to push for a dry port (intermodal terminal) in Bangkok as part of its strategic plan for the Ranong Port's expansion with a hope that it can become as pathway to Myanmar in connection with BIMSTEC countries for